Upgraded T-72B3 will be Russia's main tank
After stopping production of the T-14 Armata, Russia decided to upgrade the T-72B3 as the future main battle tank for its armored force.
Over the years, Russia has continuously developed many new types of combat vehicles, with some successful research and development projects becoming true legends and inspiring future generations of designers and engineers.
Typically, the T-72 is the most popular today and the latest upgraded version in service is the T-72B3, which is developed on the basis of the T-72B tank, an upgraded version of the basic T-72 tank. The T-72B3 includes a number of unique features that are different from all previous T-72 family tanks.
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| Russian T-72B3 tank. |
However, to become Russia's main tank in the future, the T-72B3 still does not make Russia feel secure and the country decided to upgrade this version to the new standard T-72MBT with many important changes.
T-72MBT is a deep upgrade of the legendary T-72 main battle tank with modernized engine system (using new 1,130 horsepower diesel engine, digital control system), reconnaissance system; equipped with new ERA Kontakt-5 armor, arranged and installed similarly to the T-90A tank.
The upgraded version of the T-72B3 is equipped with the most advanced technologies, including a new fire control system, a computer system that allows the crew to reduce the time to calculate the number of shots and improve the accuracy of the 125mm gun. The T-72MBT is also equipped with the ability to fight both day and night, in all weather conditions.
The tank's armament system has undergone minor changes. The 2A46-5 turret has an autoloader, and its design has been slightly modified to accommodate new types of ammunition. The firing process is now automated, which significantly increases accuracy.
In addition, the upgraded tank is equipped with an open turret to be equipped with an additional NSV anti-aircraft machine gun system. The machine gun system can be controlled remotely, so the crew does not have to open the fighting compartment hatch to control this gun, avoiding casualties.
The new version is equipped with a new fire control system, which includes a multi-channel all-time aiming system. With this system, the tank can detect and identify targets at a distance of 5km at any time.
In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a computer that calculates the digital trajectory based on a set of parameters from the meteorological and terrain sensors. The computer system allows the crew to reduce the time to calculate the number of shots and improve the accuracy of the 125mm smoothbore gun.
The new weapon control system ensures a very high probability of destroying targets with missiles launched through the gun barrel even when the vehicle is stationary or moving at a distance of up to 5 km. At the same time, the automatic target tracking system reduces the gunner's operations.
The tank is equipped with a new multi-channel sight Sosna-U, which allows the gunner to identify targets using optical and thermal channels, providing combat capabilities day and night, in all weather conditions. The external complex of Sosna-U is housed inside a lightweight metal box that protects the sight from dust and shrapnel.
Sosna-U is also equipped with a laser rangefinder and an anti-tank missile control system. Thus, using only one device, the gunner can perform multiple functions in combat.
In addition, the tank is also equipped with a digital communications system and can be redesigned to install more modern active protection systems, making the upgraded T-72MBT version competitive with the best tanks in the world today.
With a series of new equipment, the T-72MBT is truly considered a tank model that harmoniously combines price and technical and tactical features, making it have combat capabilities equal to the T-90A and Western main battle tanks such as Leopard 2A6, M1 Abrams, or Chinese Type 99.
